Vaporizing oil burner



Feb. 12, 1952 s. w. BURCH, SR 2,585,088

VAFORIZING OIL BURNER Filed Aug. 5. 1949 2 SI-IEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. SEABORN W. BURCH, SR.

ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1952 5, w BURCH, 5R 2,585,088

VAPORIZING OIL BURNER Filed Aug. 5. 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FIG. 3 FI G.5

O O O 36 I9" 772 N/ IS -1 Q U 22 24 g" g, C638 INVENTOR. SEABORN W. BURCH, SR.

ATTORNEY Patentecl Feb. 1 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE 2,585,088 VAPORI ZING OIL BURNER Seaborn W. Burch, Sr., College Park, Ga.

Application August 5, 1949, Serial No. 108,729

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an oilburner, and more particularly to a vaporizing oil burner in which the fuel oil is preheated and vaporized for more efiicient use.

This application is a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 94,847, filed May 23, 1949, for Oil Burner. I

In fuel oil burners generally in use today, the fuel oil is introduced into the burner in liquid form. In order to improve combustion to obtain more heat from the fuel, my improvedburner vaporizes the fuel oil by avery simple and efficient arrangement of structure to be more fully explained in the description to follow..

It is an object of my invention to provide an oil burner in which the major portion of the fuel is vaporized and then introduced into the combustion chamber.

Another object of my invention is to provide an oil burner in which fuel oil is syphoned from a sump in the combustion chamber into the preheating chamber.

Another object of my invention is .to provide an oil burner having a novel and more efficient pilot burner.

Another object of my invention is to provide an oil burner of the vaporizing type with a nonfiooding attachment.

Another object of my invention is to provide an oil burner whichis simple in design, rugged in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, efficient in operation, and safe in use.

Other and further objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an oil burner embodying my invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a side, elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 in Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 66 in Fig. 1. a

In the embodiment chosen for illustration, the combustion chamber I0 is housed within a horizontally disposed cylinder H which is closed at one end except for the primary openings I2 through which air is admitted to the combustion chamber l0. Depending from the cylinder near its closed end is pilot light pit l 3 which communicates at its open upper end with the combustion chamber H). A transverse wall I4 extends upwardly from the bottom of the pit almost to but slightly below the floor level of the combustion chamber l0, and this wall I4 divides the pilot light pit into forward and rear compartments |5, |5' respectively.

Fuel from the carburetor 6 is fed into the rear compartment l5 of the pilot light pit l3 through conduit l'l. Above and slightly forward of the pilot light pit [3, the cylinder II is pierced on each side near its median line to provide auxiliary air or pilot light air inlets l8. A transverse baffle plate or lip I9 is positioned slightly forward of the pilot light air inlets l8 and extends upwardly from the floor of the combustion chamber H] a height approximately one-fourth the height of the combustion chamber. Slightly forward of the lip IS, the cylinder is pierced again to form a series of secondary air inlets 20. The secondary air inlets 20 are formed in horizontal rows of three holes which extend from about the level of the top of the lip IS on one side and around and over circumference of the cylinder II to about the same level on the other side, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 6.

Positioned about the cylinder between the secondary air inlets 20 and the open end of the cylinder, is a vaporizing chamber or housing 2| which encircles the cylinder where it houses the forward end of the combustion chamber. The vaporizing chamber 2| extends above, below and on both sides of the forward end of the combustion chamber. The forward compartment l5 of the pilot light pit l3 is connected to the vaporizing chamber 2| near the bottom thereof by syphon conduit 22.

The open end of the cylinder projects through the vaporizing chamber 2| and forms a flame nozzle 23. Beneath the flame nozzle 23, and connected solidly to the outer surface of the housing 2|, is a safety trough 24 having its outer end closed by a flame baffle plate 25. The flame bafile plate 25 is tilted back toward the burner so as to condense the flame and concentrate the heat therefrom. The walls 24', 24 of the trough 24 extend upwardly a sufficient height to catch any fuel which might overflow from the burner, and raise the height of the fuel in the burner to a height sufficient to raise the float in the carburetor and cut off the flow of fuel from the carburetor to prevent flooding in the event the burner flame. should go out or for other rea- 3 sons. Conduit 26 is provided for draining fuel from the trough 24; and plugs 21 and 28 are provided for draining the vaporizing chamber 2| and the compartment l5, respectively.

In the upper part of the housing 2| is a perforated plate 29 which defines a separating chamber filled with steel wool 30 o other suitable material to separate foreign particles or condensate from the vapor rising from the fuel in the vaporizing chamber. The separating chamber is connected to the combustion chamber by a conduit 3| which enters the combustion chambe through the closed end of the cylinder H above the primary air openings l2, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 6.

Air for the burner is supplied by a blower 32, of ordinary commercial construction, which is driven by a suitable source of motive power, such as electric moto 33 which is supplied by electric power through junction box 34, of customary design. The blower 32 is mounted upon a back plate 35, and supplies air to the burner through the opening 36 in the back plate. Between the front of the back plate 35 and the rear of the housing 2l there is provided a substantially cylindrical jacket 31 which surrounds the cylinder II and forms between the jacket and the cylinder ll an air chamber 38 from which air is fed through the primary air inlet openings [2, the auxiliary air inlet openings l8 and the secondary air inlet openings 20 into the combustion chamber 10. The pilot light pit 13 extends through and depends beneath the jacket 31, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. Electrical conductors 39 are for attachment to the usual thermostat, (not shown).

In the operation of my burner, the carburetor I6 is adjusted to supply fuel oil through the conduit I! into the rear compartment l5 of the pilot light pit I3. When the rear compartment 15' has been filled, the fuel will flow over the wall [4 and into the forward compartment l5 from which it is syphoned by the conduit 22 leading into the vaporizing chamber 2 I. The fuel in the pilot light pit can be easily ignited by a fagot inserted through the open flame nozzle 23-and will continue to burn with a low flame as a pilot light. The carburetor l6 may be adjusted to supply just suificient fuel on stand by so that the pilot light will burn only in the rear compartment I5 of the pilot light pit. Combustion air for the pilot light is supplied by the blower 32, and this air enters the combustion chamber l through the primary openings I2 and the auxiliary inlets l8.

When the carburetor I6 is thrown open for high flame, additional fuel will flow into the compartment l andoverflow the wall l4 into the forward compartment from which it will be syphoned into the vaporizing chamber 2|. As the level of the fuel oil rises in the vaporizing chamber, it will also rise in the combustion chamber and the liquid fuel therein will be restrained by the lip [9. The larger quantity of oil in the combustion chambe will burn with a higher flame than was produced by the pilot light burning in the compartment 15, and this increased flame in the combustion chamber will heat the oil in the vaporizing chamber 2| and commence to vaporize it. Vapor rising from the oil in the vaporizing chamber passes upwardly through the perforations in the plate 29 and into contact with the steel wool which acts to strain liquid droplets and foreign matter from the vapor before it passes through the conduit 3| and is introduced into the rear of the combustion chamber. The introduction of the fuel oil vapor into the combustion chamber causes a hot flame to be emitted vigorously from the flame nozzle 23. This hot flame further vaporizes the fuel in the vaporizing chamber and assures that substantially all of the fuel consumed in the burner at high flame is first vaporized. Air from the primary air inlets 12 positioned in line with the axis of the burne forces the flame outward, and air from the secondary air inlets 20 assures complete combustion so that my burner is extremely eflicient and almost smokeless under all conditions of normal operation. Carbon and soot are reduced to a minimum, and the efliciency of my burner results in a great saving of fuel.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that my invention provides a needed article of high efficiency and remarkable simplicity and usefullness, and that while I have illustrated and described my invention in a very practical embodiment thereof without attempting to illustrate or describe other embodiments and adaptations which I contemplate, various changes, adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an oil burner, a member forming a coil: bustion chamber, means for supplying air to said combustion chamber, a pilot light pit communicating with said combustion chamber, means forming a vaporizing chamber in heat exchange relation with said combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel oil to said pit, means for syphoning fuel oil from said pit into said vaporizing chamber, and means connecting the upper part of said vaporizing chamber to said combustion chamber for conducting vapor from said vaporizing chamber into said combustion chamber so as to be ignited by said pilot light.

2. In an oil burner, a member forming a cornbustion chamber, means for supplying air to said combustion chamber, a pilot light pit communicating with said combustion chamber and depending therefrom, a wall dividing said pit into a plurality of compartments, said wall extending upwardly from the bottom of said pit and termin'ating below the top thereof whereby fuel oil can flow over said wall-from one compartment to another, means forming a vaporizing chamber surrounding said combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel oil to a compartment of said pit, means 'for 'syphoning fuel oil from another compartment of said pit into said vaporizing chamber, and means connecting the upper part of said vaporizing chamber to said combustion chamber for conducting vapor from said vaporizing chamber into said combustion chamber so as to be ignited by said pilot light.

3. In an'oil burner, a member forming a combustion chamber, means for supplying air to said combustion chamber, a pilot light pit communicating with said combustion chamber, means dividing said pit into a plurality of compartments, means forming a vaporizing chamber in heat exchange relation with said'combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel oil to said pit, means for syphoning fuel'oil from said pit into said vapor izing chamber, and means connecting said vaporizing chamber to said combustion chamber for by said pilot light.

'4. In an oil burner, a member forming a comexchange relation with said combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel oil to a compartment of said pit, means for conducting fuel oil from another compartment of said pit into said vaporizing chamber, means connecting the upper part of said vaporizing chamber to the closed end of said combustion chamber for conducting vapor from said vaporizing chamber into said combustion chamber, so as to be ignited by said pilot light, said member forming a combustion chamber being perforated to provide inlets for the admission of air into said combustion chamber, and means for supplying air to said combustion chamber through said inlets.

5. In an oil burner, a walled member forming a combustion chamber generally closed at one end and having the other end open to form a flame nozzle, a pilot light pit communicating with said combustion chamber and depending therefrom, a transverse Wall dividing said pit into a plurality of compartments, said wall extending upwardly from the bottom of said pit and terminating near the level of the floor of said combustion chamber,

a lip positioned in said combustion chamber for-- Wardly of said pit and extending upwardly frcm the floor of said combustion chamber, means 7 forming a vaporizing chamber surrounding said combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel oil to a compartment of said pit, tubular means, for transferring fuel oil from another compart-' ment of said pit into said vaporizing chamber, tubular means connecting the upper part of said vaporizing chamber to the closed end of said combustion chamber for conducting vapor from said vaporizing chamber into said combustion chamber, so as to be ignited by said pilot light, said member forming a combustion chamber being perforated to provide inlets for the admission of air into said combustion chamber, means for supplying air to said combustion chamber through said inlets, and a trough extending beyond and beneath said flame nozzle.

6. In an oil burner, a cylindrical walled member forming a combustion chamber generally closed at one end and having the other end open to form a flame nozzle, a pilot light pit communicating with said combustion chamber and depending therefrom, a transverse wall dividing said pit into a plurality of compartments, said wall extending upwardly from the bottom of said pit and terminating near the level of the floor of said combustion chamber, a lip positioned in said combustion chamber forwardly of said pit and extending upwardly from the floor of said combustion chamber, means forming a vaporizing chamber surrounding said combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel oil to a compartment of said pit, means for syphoning fuel oil from another compartment of said pit into said vaporizing chamber, tubular means connecting the upper part of said vaporizing chamber to the closed end of said combustion chamber for conducting vapor from said vaporizing chamber iinto said combustion chamber, so as to be ignited by said pilot light, said generally closed end of said member forming a combustion chamber being perforated to form inlets for the admission of air into said combustion chamber, the side walls of said cylindrical member being also perforated to form inlets for the admission of air for combustion, means for supplying air to said combustion chamber through said inlets, and a trough extending beyond and beneath said flame nozzle, said trough terminating in a flame baflle tilted toward said nozzle.

SEABORN W. BURCH, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,124,026 Johnson Jan. 5, 1915 1,418,073 Gundermann May 30, 1922 2,460,451 Farrell Feb. 1, 1949 

